Combined guano-distributer and pea-planter



(No Model.)

J. G. FLETCHER. COMBINED GUANO DISTRIBUTBR AND PEA PLANTBR.

No. 436,598. Patented Sept; 16, 1890.

fiffak'rrey UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN CECIL FLETCHER, OF ADAMSVILLE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES S.MOOALL, OF BENNETTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

COMBINED GUANO-DISTRIBUTER AND PEA-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,598, dated.September 16,1890.

Application filed June 3, 1890. Serial No. 354,099. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN C. FLETCHER, a citizen of the United States,residing atAdams- Ville, in the county of Marlborough and State of SouthCarolina, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in CombinedGuano- Distributers and Pea-Planters; and I do declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable "others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention has relation to improvements in an implement adapted forthe purpose of distributing guano, and also with slight change to beequally adapted for the purpose of planting peas.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction whereby thesmall lumps of guano are thoroughly comminuted or ground up and directedfrom the bottom of the hop per to the soil in a continuous stream.

A further object is to provide a construction whereby the machine may bereadily converted into a pea-planter.

With the above objects and others in View the invention consists in theimproved construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter morefully pointed out and described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view.Fig. 2 is a cross'section on the line a; 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detailof the guano-roller. Fig. 4': is a detail View of the pea-roller. Fig. 5is a crosssectional view of the pea-roller on the line y y, Fig. 4:.Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the guano-roller with the annular bandsecured thereto, and Fig. 7 is a detail view of the annular band.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

plates D D serving to hold the same firmly in place upon the lowersection 0 when ad justed to the same.

Depending from opposite sides of the frame of the machine are hangers EE, in which the axle F is journaled. axle are the driving-wheels G G,and intermediate these wheels, preferably integral therewith, is theguano feeding roller II. This roller is of the peculiar form shown inthe drawings, and has the opposite ends of its periphery perfectly fiator smooth, as indi cated at h h, while intermediate these smoothsurfaces is an annular depression having formed therein a series ofoblique ridges or projections h, which are in the form of aspiral bendor fiexure. This peculiar form of the ridges-that is, oblique and spiralformis an important feature of my invention, inasmuch as it serves notonly to finely grind and crush the guano before its discharge from thehopper, but at the same time discharges the same in a continuous anduninterrupted stream, thus providing for an equal distribu tion of thefertilizer over the soil.

It will be noticed that the sides of the hopper are concaved at c 0 soas to fit neatly over the outer smooth surface of the roller with aslittle space intervening as possible, but not close enough to the rolleras to contact and interfere with its free rotation.

An adjustable feed-plate I is arranged in the forward portion of thelower section 0 of the hopper, and is provided with a set-screw J, whichpasses through an elongated slot c in the forward end, by means of whichthe amount of guano discharged from the hopper may be convenientlyregulated.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated a form of roller (designated by theletter K) which may be employed when it is desired to plant peas. This,like the guano-roller, is arranged between the driving wheels andintegral therewith, but is smooth throughout the entire surface of itsperiphery, except at diametrically-opposite points, where it is providedwith depressions 7.; it. In order to adjust this roller to the machineall that is nec essary to be done is simply to remove the guano-rollerand its driving-wheels and re- Mounted fast upon this in construction,inexpensive of production,-

place the same by the pea-roller. The adjusting-plate is then adjustedclose enough to the roller to prevent the peas from escaping at theforward end.

As the above construction, however, comprehends interchangeable sets offeed-cylinders, I have provided a construction which will entirelydispense with this necessity of using an extra roller. This consists ofan annular band L, which is wide enough and of such circumference as tocompletely close the central depression of the guano-roller. This bandof course is provided with the depressions, and its edges are securedtogether in any desirable manner.

As the same necessity for a large hopperin the case of distributingguano does not exist when planting peas, the upper section of saidhopper may be dispensed with, which can be done by simply releasing thesprings, as here-' inbefore described. As the roller revolves, thedepressions in the same are alternately filled by the peas, andconsequently a like quantity is discharged after the roller has turnedsuch a distance as to bring one of the depressions outside of thehopper.

From the above description the construction, operation, and advantagesof my invention will be readily understood.

Besides the advantages already pointed out it will be seen. that it isexceedingly simple and little liable to derangement, there being nochains, gearing, or other parts liable to get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination of a frame and hopper, a shaft or axle,driving-wheels fast thereon and having an intermediate feed-rollerintegral therewith, said feed-rollerhavingthe ends of its peripherysmooth, with an annular depression intermediate, said depression havingformed therein a series of spiral ridges, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination. of a frame, a shaft or axle, driving-wheels fastthereon and having an intermediate feed-roller integral therewith, saidfeed-roller having the ends of its periphery smooth with an annulardepression intermediate, said depression having formed therein a seriesof spiral ridges, a hopper hav: ing the lower ends of its sides concavedto fit over the smooth edges of the roller, and also provided at itsforward end with an elongated slot, and an adjustable plate providedwith a set-screw passingjthrough said elongated slot, substantially asset forth.

3. The combination of a frame, a shaft or axle having driving wheelsmounted fast thereon, said Wheels having an intermediate feed-roller,which is provided with an annular depression having formed therein aseries of spiral ridges, and adapted to receive an annular bandsurrounding the roller or feed cylinder, said band provided withdiametricallyopposite seed-depressions, whereby the machine may beconverted into a pea-planter, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CECIL FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

R0121. CHAFFIN, P. S. PARHAM.

